1956 Fairlane Club Sedan needs...questions.

[56fairlane]

I am so thankful to find this sight. I purchased a 1956 Club Sedan because I couldn't find a 57 Fairlane 500 like my grandparents had. I am very excited about this car, and am hoping you folks can help me locate a few parts...I have looked on Ebay, Craigslist, and other Old Ford sites. My car does not have the front and rear bumper guards that I see on every other Fairlane...I would like to find those. Also, the rear ashtrays are missing out of the arm rests. I also have a few questions about the car. It has power steering, a power brake PEDAL...no booster, a Town and Country Radio, a rear speaker option, and the foot pedal next to the emergency brake that operates the wipers. The code for the motor shows it to be the 312 motor coupled with the fordomatic transmission. The valve covers are chrome...should they be black?

Thanks,

Marty

[Ole Don]

Some early power brake set ups didnt use the type of booster we see today. They had a system similar to the truck Hydrovac, it was mounted on the left inner fender in front of the front suspension. Some used a Treddlevac system. The 57 312 had red on the engine with black rocker covers, I dont know about a 56.

[56fairlane]

Thanks for the info on the power brakes...I did not know that. I posted some pictures in your photo section of my car.

[paul2748]

56 Fords had a red engine and black bolt on parts, including the valve covers.

[Fordknut]

What a nice car to have! My wife and I were married in '61.
Her Uncle, a longtime Ford mechanic let us take his '56 Club Sedan on our honeymoon. It was coral and black with a 312 and AT. It was in absolute mint condition and just beautiful.
I think I have some pics of that car around somewhere!

[Paul H]

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I think I have some of the bumper guards for a 56.I'll look through my parts in the next couple of days and see how many I have.The valve covers should be black,not chrome,as another member stated.I have a nice pair of original valve covers that have stripped and painted black that I'd sell.The rear armrest ashtrays are a very hard piece to find.For some reason, most of them have disappeared.When I restored my Club Sedan a few years ago,I spent 2 years finding a pair of ashtrays.

[darrell]

its funny you should bring up the ashtray thing.i have been looking at 56 sedans on ebay and other places and when they show int, shots theres almost always an ashtray missing.

[56fairlane]

I will be happy to buy whatever you have to make the car more original. The mirrors are incorrect also...

[56fairlane]

Also, can you guys tell me about whether or not these cars had rocker panel chrome moldings? I have seen some on some cars on ebay, was it just the Victorias that were supposed to have them?

[raceron1120]

I've seen them too but I think the rocker moldings are aftermarket items.

What ashtrays are you looking for? My Fairlane has them in the rear armrests on each side, with the sliding top/cover. Are yours the same?

I've seen the 56s with and without bumper guards, I chose not to replace them on mine, just personal preference.

Mac's has the correct outside mirrors, other sources probably do too.

Actually, most of the body moldings are stainless steel. Park lamp housings & extensions, hood and deck emblems and headlight bezel speartips are chrome plated pot metal Grille is chrome plated steel.

BTW - nice sedan there!

Ron

[Paul H]

The rocker moldings were an extra cost factory option on all 56s.All 56s had the bumper guards,but many of them have been removed over the years.The ashtrays are unique to the Fairlane and Customline Club Sedan models.All Victorias and all 4 doors had different ashtrays in the rear.
I will look to see if I still have any bumper guards as soon as I get a chance.

[raceron1120]

Paul do you have any pics of the rocker moldings? I've not paid a lot of attention to any I've seen, but would like to take a closer look at them if possible.

Thx

Ron

[Daves55Sedan]

I ran across a 56 with a y-block in a junkyard back in 1972 that had dirty, oily chromed valve covers. Always wondered if Ford chromed them optionally.

You can still buy the entire power brake booster assembly and mounting bracket NEW from Concours parts, but it aint cheap.

Theres still a few 2-dr, 55 and 56's at johns salvage in Cabool, Missouri. Many bumper guards to pick from also as there is a lot more 4-dr and station wagons there

[Daves55Sedan]

The small foot pedal to the far left is actually for the Ford "See-Clear" windshield washer. It also operates the windshield wipers as long as you hold your foot down on the pedal. There should be a red plastic "SEE-Clear" washer fluid bag mounted to a bracket on the drivers side fender apron.
You can still buy all those components new from a lot of resto parts suppliers. Concours has the most comprehensive selection, but they are expensive.

[Paul H]

Raceron,
Sorry,no, I don't have any pictures of the rocker mouldings.I recently scrapped a car that had them,but they were in such bad shape,I didn't keep them.

[Paul H]

56 Fairlane,
I found a pair of bumper guards for a 56.They are not show quality,although they are straight and could be rechromed.They are good enough for a driver as they are.I'll take $40,including shipping,for them.
PM me or email to [email protected] if you're interested.I also have some other parts from 56s that I've scrapped over the years.Let me know if there's anything more I can help you with.

[jamestank]

anyone install power booster and duel m/c on 1956 crown vic. need to know adapters,line size.... thanks jim

[paul2748]

You are better off starting new thread on this. Might get a better response

Originally Posted by jamestank

anyone install power booster and duel m/c on 1956 crown vic. need to know adapters,line size.... thanks jim

[delco1946]

Hey Dave, what do mean holding the washer fluid pedal operates the wipers too ��? They’re two different systems on my 1955. I have to operate them separately / independently.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by delco1946

Hey Dave, what do mean holding the washer fluid pedal operates the wipers too ��? They’re two different systems on my 1955. I have to operate them separately / independently.

The factory rubber tubing installation furnishes a dual-operation, thus: Depressing the foot-pedal causes a stream of washer-fluid from the " See-Clear" bag to a chrome-plated outlet on the hood. Two holes in the outlet aim the washer fluid to the windshield.
There is a nylon "Tee" fitting in the rubber vacuum hose under the dashboard at the point of the hose entry through the firewall. One end of the "Tee" has a hose to the vacuum wiper motor. The other end of the "Tee" goes to the hose connection at the foot pedal.
That hose opens engine vacuum to the wiper motor when the washer foot pedal is depressed, operating the wiper motor. When the pedal is released, the wiper motor no longer has vacuum, and the wiper arms return to their normal position. If you hold your foot down on the pedal, vacuum continuously pulls the wiper motor (but you only get one shot of fluid, since the fluid pressure is operated by the bellows under the foot pedal). However if you need another shot of fluid on the windshield, just release the pedal and press it again.
It is not necessary to operate the windshield wiper knob on the dashboard just to clean your windshield with washer fluid.
But if that "Tee" fitting and extra hose that FOMOCO originally installed is missing, you will not have the dual action.

[paul2748]

In 54, the wipers did not go on automatically when the pedal was depressed. The 56 Birds are the same. The 57 Birds had the automatic feature, so that feature may have started in 57. The sedan may have been different. I don't know whether it was standard or an option on the 57 Birds.

[Rusty_S85]

Hate to say it but it looks like '55/'56 Ford cars had a automatic feature.

Part # B5A-17664-C : 55/56 All Fords Windshield Washer Control assembly pump (use with coordinator)

I would post a picture of the illustration guide showing the hook up but it requires a url and I don't host on line anymore not since the photobucket fiasco.

Part # B5A-17601-B : 55/56 All Fords Windshield Washer Vacuum Actuator Assembly (use when washer is installed)

[delco1946]

Thanks, I’m definitly going to investigate this!

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Rusty_S85

Hate to say it but it looks like '55/'56 Ford cars had a automatic feature.

Part # B5A-17664-C : 55/56 All Fords Windshield Washer Control assembly pump (use with coordinator)

I would post a picture of the illustration guide showing the hook up but it requires a url and I don't host on line anymore not since the photobucket fiasco.

Part # B5A-17601-B : 55/56 All Fords Windshield Washer Vacuum Actuator Assembly (use when washer is installed)

Here are two ILL that may help-

Rusty-

What I have been doing is printing the page I want to show and then scan it to my computer. Then you can upload it here and it will show (MANAGE ATTACHMENTS).

I am sure there is a quicker method but I am basically computer illiterate.

The feature will also be described in the SHOP MANUAL.

[Rusty_S85]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

Here are two ILL that may help-

Rusty-

What I have been doing is printing the page I want to show and then scan it to my computer. Then you can upload it here and it will show (MANAGE ATTACHMENTS).

I am sure there is a quicker method but I am basically computer illiterate.

The feature will also be described in the SHOP MANUAL.

I have jpeg copies of the pages I just don't have a way of embeding the photo unless I use another forum as a hosting source.

Went ahead and hosted them on the other forum I am on to post it here.

[[email protected]]

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Anyone have a power steering control valve for a 56 Fairlane? I understand 54-56 will fit. Thank you, Jim.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Anyone have a power steering control valve for a 56 Fairlane? I understand 54-56 will fit. Thank you, Jim.

Mac's (Ecklers) and Obsolete Ford Parts in Oklahoma offer the '54-56 PS control valve. I think Concours parts in Nevada also offers it rebuild/exchange. Very pricey though.


But to answer your question, yes I have a rebuilt control valve, rebuilt pump/reservoir/pulley and both mounting brackets and ram cylinder, the tie-rods, idler arm, hoses and everything else for a complete bolt-on kit all in a big box. I was gonna use it when I built my '55 Courier, but I used a 223 I-block six, so the add-on crankshaft damper caused me to add a spacer for the fan blade. Then there wasn't enough room for the radiator. So I left it standard steering. I won't let anything go out of that box unless somebody wants to buy the whole thing.

[Rusty_S85]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Anyone have a power steering control valve for a 56 Fairlane? I understand 54-56 will fit. Thank you, Jim.

Reman here for $190.
https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_m...d-mercury.html

Also the power steering Control Valve Assembly, its listed as fitting 1953 - 1956 with a part number of B5AZ-3A730-A.

If you feel compelled you might be able to seek out a NOS unit if you don't mind waiting. None currently on Ebay I already looked.

[Daves55Sedan]

Originally Posted by Rusty_S85

Hate to say it but it looks like '55/'56 Ford cars had a automatic feature.

If you have a '55 or '56 Ford car with the "See-Clear" windshield washer, the factory installed the same foot-pump on all those cars. That foot-pump has a double-feature, never seen one that did not have the double-feature.
1) the foot-pump pushes a rubber bellows which forces washer fluid from the bag into the hose that runs to the little dispenser on the hood, which squirts washer fluid onto the windshield.
2) The foot-pump also actives a spring-loaded piston inside a little housing with two vacuum hose connections. The piston is normally sealed shut against a rubber o-ring inside the housing which does not allow vacuum to flow thru the housing. But when the foot pump is depressed, that piston opens, vacuum flows thru and runs to that little add-on diaphragm mounted atop the windshield wiper motor. That diaphragm holds the vacuum open long enough for the wipers to swipe back & forth about three times, then it shuts, shutting off the flow of vacuum and the wipers return to their normal position.
Not all the Ford cars had that added vacuum diaphragm mounted on the wiper motors, but the Mercury cars all did have them.
Nevertheless, if the factory installed a wiper motor without the diaphragm and with the windshield washer, you still got one free swipe of the wiper blades by pressing the foot-pump and releasing. Upon releasing the foot-pump, the piston itself cuts off the vacuum to the wiper motor. If you depressed the foot pedal and held it down, vacuum would operate the wipers until you released your foot from the pump pedal.
I have seen a couple of wiper motors that came out of Customlines that did not have the diaphragm attached to the motor. I had a '55 Victoria 2-door hardtop that DID have the diaphragm attached to the motor. It has always made me wonder if they only installed the diaphragm on the Fairlane models and not on the cheaper models. But like I say, the dual system works with or without the diaphragm.

[markoxpollo]

Great info I was looking for!